Staff report

SALISBURY — Young Harris scored three runs in the top of the first inning at Newman Park and never looked back.

Fifth-seeded Young Harris beat top-seeded Catawba’s baseball team 5-3 in Southeast Regional action staged on Thursday night in front of about 500 fans.

The Mountain Lions of Young Harris (40-14) benefited from a bases-clearing double from Kade Smallwood in the opening inning against Catawba starter Austin Fine (8-3).

Bo Rusher singled home a run in the bottom of the first to put Catawba on the board, but Smallwood countered by swatting his eighth homer of the season in the fourth inning.

Logan Rogers drilled a two-run homer for the Indians (40-15), his 13th, with Levi Perrell on base in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-3.

Young Harris starting pitcher Zach Hart (9-4) put up zeroes in the fifth and sixth, and the Mountain Lions tacked on a run in the top of the seventh to lead 5-3.

Young Harris closer Dylan Beck handled the last two innings with a flurry of strikeouts for his 11th save.

Catawba had eight hits, with Rogers and Ty Hubbard getting two each.

Fine pitched seven innings. Brandon Rodgers pitched the eighth. Hayden Simmerson pitched the ninth and struck out two.

Catawba will try to stay alive in the double-elimination portion of the regional on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Payne Stolsworth is the probable pitcher for the Indians.

Fourth-seeded UNC Pembroke (43-12), an 8-7 winner over Young Harris on Thursday afternoon, will be Catawba’s opponent.

UNCP’s Joey Rezek was a terror. He went 5-for-5 against Young Harris. Rezek and Kody O’Connor homered for the Braves.

Young Harris will get a day off on Friday after playing two on Thursday.

 

Ticket Information

Admission for each day of the tournament:

Adults: $10

Students with I.D./Senior Citizens: $5

Children, ages 2-12: $5